USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN 641)

• Namesake: USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641) was named after Simón Bolívar, the South American revolutionary leader who played a key role in Latin America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire. • Commissioning Date: The submarine was commissioned on October 29, 1965, at Groton, Connecticut. • Class: Simon Bolivar was a Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine, an improved version of the Lafayette class with additional technical upgrades. • Dual Crew Concept: Like most U.S. ballistic missile submarines, Simon Bolivar operated with two complete crews, Blue and Gold, to maximize patrol time at sea. • Missile Systems: The boat was originally equipped with Polaris A3 ballistic missiles and later upgraded to carry Poseidon C3 missiles, enhancing its nuclear deterrent capability. • Patrols: Over her career, the USS Simon Bolivar completed more than 70 strategic deterrent patrols, primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, during the height of the Cold War. • Home Ports: The submarine operated from several home ports, including Charleston, South Carolina, and later from Kings Bay, Georgia, following the relocation of the Atlantic Fleet's SSBN base. • Overhauls: Simon Bolivar underwent significant overhauls at Newport News Shipbuilding and at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, including a major refueling and conversion to carry the Poseidon missile system. • Decommissioning: USS Simon Bolivar was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on February 8, 1995, and later scrapped via the Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Bremerton, Washington. • Legacy: The submarine earned one Navy "E" Ribbon and the Navy Expeditionary Medal during her service, and her crew members remain active in veterans' associations, keeping her legacy alive.